Looking hard at 2006 S type - would like advice
 

My son sells Cadillacs, and took in a 2006 S type (3.0L) in trade with 29,800 miles....it is triple black and immaculate. I can get it for $20K, but never owned a Jag (but always thought I would like one).

I know parts are expensive and some only available through the dealer. But if these cars are very reliable when taken care of ( I am a fanatic), I would love to own this one.

Any advice would be appreciated....thanks

Dave

Parts are not especially expensive (but note my location - we don't often see Cadillacs so I can't compare parts prices). But LABOUR is quite expensive and also very patchy (at best) in quality. If you can DIY or are SURE you know a good jag tech, then it's just another car and a good one.

They're not "very reliable" like a mass-produced simple car (I'm guessing that isn't a Cadillac, but don't know). But reliability's OK (unless you're unlucky, which can happen with any purchase).

Negotiate hard on price - you know where the bodies are :) :)

I would dive in to the forum and read up on the common issues. Also, you need to think about where you are getting it. An 06 could still be certified at a Jag dealer. Those are listing in the low twenties. So, mileage or not, 20 grand seems like an awful lot for basically an "As Is" used car...Also, the 3.0's are the least valuable cars out there..

Just food for thought... My 05 with 66k and certified warranty still active has a trade value of around 10 grand...

The more maintenance you can do yourself, the far better off you'll be. This forum is a wealth of information - use it wisely as you investigate whether or not this car is for you. The 3.0 has a number of well-known issues that must eventually be resolved, but they are not showstoppers if you can do most of the work yourself....

Good luck and let us know what you decide to do after you've done your due diligence....

well i am no expert but i can say for sure they are better built than any american car. the price does seem high but then values vary depending on where you live.

See if you can pick it up a low mileage 3.0 "S" for no more than $15k. This car has numerous parts in common with the Ford Lincoln LS (share chassis, etc.).

Well, I opted to buy the 06 S-type....may have paid a little too much, but it went ot my son, so I guess it is ok....I had looked at a couple for under $19K and they were rode hard and showed it.....

This one is pristine and looks like a new car....pick it up Wednesday...

Thanks for all of the infor from everyone...I should mention that I used to be an ASE certified mechanic, so repair are not an issue...only the cost of parts. $50/qt for atf is outrageous, but I can do all the maintenance and most of the repairs myself...now I need a good shop manual....ugh!!

Thanks to all

Dave

The ATF is shockingly expensive but that's ZF's rip-off.

The best place for car data is jag's own GTR / TOPIx (link from their home page). Not free but fairly cheap and you can download to read later - but a real chore doing it. Out of date (for your 06) but cheap is the workshop manual you can get for $10 from ebay. Most things won't have changed. alldatadiy is OK, too, I hear. Plus there's tons of stuff on here. You're not going to need most of it, with your background. Have fun with the new toy!

Super...thansk for the advice. I have already ordered an 01-04 manual from ebay....cannot seem to find anything for an 06, but I assumed that the older cars are not that much different from the newer ones....thanks

Nothing later on ebay because it went online.

Congratulations on your car. JagV8 pretty much covered it.. BTW, the only thing that really changed from the 04 to your 06 is the brakes. They still bolt up the same but the 3.0 cars went from dual piston front calipers to a single piston design..

I'm glad you took my advise with a grain of salt and made an educated purchase... That was my point. The retail value of the S has jumped up in the past couple of years. I think it is a combination of a few things. The overall rise in used vehicle prices. The fact that there really aren't any entry level Jags anymore. Jag's increasing reputation for quality and reliability.